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Review
Maybe the broadest and best overview available in English of a country which we need urgently to understand better. It should be required holiday reading in the Foreign Office, and maybe the White House too. --Stephen Howe, The Independent
Katouzian is a convincing analyst of Iranian history. --Robert Carver, The Tablet
Katouzian is a convincing analyst of Iranian history. --Robert Carver, The Tablet
Product Description
In recent years, Iran has gained attention mostly for negative reasons - for its authoritarian religious government, disputed nuclear programme, and controversial role in the Middle East - but there is much more to the story of this ancient land than can be gleaned from the news. This authoritative and comprehensive history of Iran, written by Homa Katouzian, an acclaimed expert, covers the entire history of the area from the foundation of the ancient Persian empire to todays Iranian state. Writing from an Iranian rather than a European perspective, Katouzian integrates the significant cultural and literary history of Iran with its political and social history. Some of the greatest poets of human history wrote in Persian - among them Rumi, Omar Khayyam, and Saadi - and Katouzian discusses and occasionally quotes their work. In his thoughtful analysis of Iranian society, Katouzian argues that the absolute and arbitrary power traditionally enjoyed by Persian/Iranian rulers has resulted in an unstable society where fear and short-term thinking dominate. A magisterial history, this book also serves as an excellent background to the role of Iran in the contemporary world.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Homa Katouzian's latest book The Persians is arguably the most comprehensive and learned history of Iran and the Iranian people encapsulated in a single volume in the English language to date. Few authors would be so bold as to take on the mammoth task of writing a history covering several millennia of Iranian history, but then again, few are as qualified as Katouzian for just such an undertaking. And the reason for Katouzian's success in pulling off such a massive feat, is not only the wealth of experience and learning he has brought to bear in this book, but the tightly argued and analytical structure by means of which Iranian history, from the mythological birth of Kiumars to the Islamic Revolution, is deftly imparted to the reader. The only comparable book one could possibly cite would be Michael Axworthy's Empire of the Mind, which although certainly an excellent and thoughtfully written general history, is a very different book from The Persians, which manages to dexterously straddle multiple readerships of differing levels - while it works perfectly as an introduction to Iran and Iranian history, society and culture, on another level it delivers a whole raft of penetrating observations, insights, facts and figures for more seasoned Iran-watchers.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought thr book new and knew that it was what I wanted so the primary issue was the price I paid (incuding p/p): which was good. So, I'm satisfied.The Persians: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran
4 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am a PhD student and it is hard to find a history and analytic book which use scientific method. but this book is very convincing in any sense. thanks to such a brilliant author, Dr homa Katouzian'.
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